17.20

Alex Salmond has been accused of an “outrageous” attempt to claim Charles Kennedy did not support the United Kingdom only hours after the former Liberal Democrat leader’s death was announced.

The former First Minister said he did not think Mr Kennedy’s “heart” was in the pro-UK Better Together referendum campaign and he would have been “reconciled” to an independent Scotland.

But Sir Malcolm Bruce, the former Scottish Lib Dem president and a close friend of Mr Kennedy, said this was “fundamentally” untrue and attacked Mr Salmond for trying to claim the former Lib Dem leader as “one of his own” when he was unable to respond.

Sir Malcolm Bruce has criticised Alex Salmond's comments

Calling the comments “churlish and graceless”, Sir Malcolm said Mr Kennedy was an “internationalist” who was opposed to Scotland leaving the UK, or the UK withdrawing from the EU.

16.40

In Fort William, where Charles Kennedy lived, Auslan Cramb has heard more about his life in the community.

Both of Mr Kennedy's parents were laid to rest at St John's Church in Caol, outside Fort William.

Mr Kennedy’s father Ian died at the age of 88 in a care home in Fort William at the start of the general election campaign.

A well known fiddle player, he had worked as a draughtsman with the Scottish hydro-electric board. In 2008, Ian and Mary Kennedy were awarded a Benemerenti medal from Pope Benedict for services to the Catholic Church.

Jamie Stone, Mr Kennedy’s former constituency chairman, said he had been a "star who glittered very brightly”, adding: “My wife Flora and I were utterly devastated by this terrible news. It was solely because of Charles that I decided to join the then SDP, which was to eventually merge with the Liberals to form today's Liberal Democrat party.

A police officer at Charles Kennedy's home today

"Charles was a star who glittered very brightly in the political firmament, but at the same time he never lost his extraordinary ability to communicate with ordinary people in a way that was virtually unique in politics.

Hugh Dan McLennan, a broadcaster who went to school with Mr Kennedy and worked with him at BBC Radio Highland before he entered politics, said that while other boys played football and shinty at lunchtime, Mr Kennedy would “go to the school hall and practice oration”.

Iain MacDonald, a veteran BBC journalist in Inverness, said he had offered Mr Kennedy a permanent job at BBC Radio Highland, but he took up a Fulbright Scholarship in Boston instead.

He added: ”He came to us with an irrepressible enthusiasm and people took to him immediately.

"He said he might not get the chance to take up the scholarship again and he would have to go." Within the next year he was adopted as election candidate for Ross and Cromarty.

16.35

Fr Roddy McAuley, Mr Kennedy’s local parish priest at St John's RC Church, said the MP was a much loved and cherished parishioner, adding: “He was a very humble and thoughtful person and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of his family, he rest in peace.”

16.01

Labour's Welsh Assembly member Jenny Rathbone, who represents Cardiff Central, landed herself in hot water today after describing Charles Kennedy's death as a "sad end to the demise of the Lib Dems".

Her tweet was later deleted after being heavily criticised by social media users.

15.25

14.50

"Representing the people of Ross, Skye and Lochaber meant so much to him." Those words by Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor and a close friend of Mr Kennedy's, feel particularly significant.

It was clear that representing the constituency since 1983, when he was a young man, meant that Mr Kennedy had almost known it no other way.

Charles Kennedy celebrates his election win in 1983

To lose his once safe seat to the SNP's Ian Blackford must have come as a huge personal setback for the 55-year-old. To make matters worse, he had just lost his elderly father.

I am very fond of political history. Tonight, if nothing else, we can all reflect on and perhaps tell our grandchildren that we were there on "The night of long sgian dubhs!"

He goes on to ask people to "spare a thought" for his members of staff who were to lose their jobs.

Charles outside his Fort William home

And what of his three decades as a parliamentarian?

It has been the greatest privilege of my adult and public life to have served, for 32 years, as the Member of Parliament for our local Highlands and Islands communities.

14.26

The Liberal Democrats have splashed their website with a full screen tribute to Charles Kennedy and have opened up an online book of condolences. The party says that all of the messages will be sent to Charles's family.

The Liberal Democrat website today

14.17

More memories of Charles Kennedy's life in Fort William are coming in from locals. Auslan Cramb reports:

Stewart Leitch, owner of the Moorings Hotel in Banavie, outside Fort William, where Mr Kennedy held constituency clinics and took part in debates during the independence referendum, said nobody “disliked” the MP.

He added: “Charles was the best debater, he won the schools debating event two years in a row when he was at Lochaber High.

“He and his wife were very well known and liked in the area. His father Ian was a renowned fiddler and very much part of the Highland music scene, and his mother Mary played piano at the local church.”

Mr Bleitch added: “It is a huge, huge loss for this area. People around Britain will say it is sad, but it is an enormous loss for this area. Nobody ever had a bad word to say for him. You don’t get many leaders in any area, and he certainly was. I voted for Charles all my life.”

14.03

Nicola Sturgeon has shared a "very fond" personal memory of her time with Charles Kennedy in Australia in the mid-1990s.

I have some very fond personal memories of Charles. I had the privilege of spending some time with him on a political study visit that we made together to Australia in the mid-1990s. Perhaps my fondest memory from that visit – if perhaps a slightly bizarre memory - was of the two of us skiving off one day to watch Trainspotting in a Melbourne cinema.

I think we were the only two Scots in the audience at that time, so we drew some very strange looks from other people as we were uproariously laughing at lots of jokes that nobody else in the cinema were even beginning to understand. That’s a small, but very special memory that I certainly will always treasure.

13.32

The people of Fort William, the Highland town where Mr Kennedy lived, are in shock, reports Auslan Cramb:

Mgr Donald Mackinnon, of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, said the residents of the Highland town were in shock following Mr Kennedy’s death.

“My thoughts in mass this morning were with his son Donald,” he added. “He was our MP and a good MP for many years. It is a sudden death and many of us hoped his gifts would still be recognised nationally and perhaps internationally after the election. But it wasn’t to be.

“He was well liked, he was a good constituency MP, he put us first and not the party. It is one of our own who has died, one of the people of Lochaber.

"He was never into the back stabbing of politics. There was a deep humility in him and he never forgot his Lochaber roots, which were very much part of him.”

13.19

Lord Oakeshott, who formerly sat in Parliament as a Liberal Democrat, has made these comments about Charles Kennedy's well-documented battle with alcohol over the years. Mr Kennedy resigned as leader of his party in 2006 citing his battle with alcoholism.

It was drink that got him. Terribly, terribly sad. But it is a terrible disease. I last saw him on a bus a few weeks before the election coming in. And we had a very good chat. But he clearly wasn’t at all well.

Lord Oakeshott reflects on Charles Kennedy's trouble life

Mr Kennedy's good friend John Pugh, the Lib Dem MP for Southport, earlier said that today's news was "the outcome many dreaded".

13.11

A lighter moment amid today's very sad news.

Gonzo, from The Muppets, pictured right

When Charles Kennedy was asked in a letter who his favourite Muppet was, he politely replied saying that Gonzo was his favourite, adding: "Even though he is blue he is a nice guy."

Years ago I wrote to Charles Kennedy & asked him who his favourite muppet was. I've just found his reply. A lovely man pic.twitter.com/jxahBmnJ

12.22

The Prime Minister David Cameron says Charles Kennedy has been "taken from us far too soon":

Our Political Correspondent Ben Riley-Smith reports what Mr Cameron said at the start of today's Cabinet meeting:

David Cameron paid tribute to Charles Kennedy's "wit and humour" at the beginning of today's Cabinet meeting, Number 10 has said.

The Prime Minister told Tory frontbenchers the former Liberal Democrat leader had been a "remarkable politician" throughout his decades in Parliament.

MPs will be given the chance to remember Mr Kennedy with speeches in the Commons tomorrow during a special session after Prime Minister's Questions.

12.13

Charles Kennedy lost his parliamentary seat to the SNP. Nevertheless, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute to him earlier.

Now Ian Blackford, the SNP MP for Ross, Skye & Lochaber has added his thoughts:

He was a bright, articulate and gregarious man and it is so sad that he has been taken at such a young age.

Charles was a very kind, decent and honest man. I have known him for a long time, and I will remember him as someone that could rise above party politics.

I recall election night in 1999 – not a good night for the SNP, but Charles showed tremendous kindness and support that evening. I will never forget that.

Ian Blackford, SNP MP

On the doorstep in the constituency there was undoubtedly a lot of warmth expressed toward him – and he had helped a lot of people during his time as an MP. His humanity and kind nature endeared him to so many.

Charlie Kennedy set a fine example of how a member of parliament should serve their constituents and make their political arguments and that is something all of us in public life should all learn from and aspire to."

12.07

A powerful commentary from The Telegraph's James Kirkup about Charles Kennedy the man.

In the important ways, the basic human ways, Mr Kennedy was normal. He was untidy and disorganised. He ran late for things. He made jokes. He talked, sometimes too much, and sometimes without thinking through exactly what he was going to say. He was, in other words, like the rest of us.

He was a weak, flawed person. We all are. And that is why politics needs more people like Charles Kennedy.

11.51

11.45

Our Scottish Correspondent Auslan Cramb is in Fort William and has this:

A police officer was stationed outside Mr Kennedy’s whitewashed, croft house home on Tuesday morning in Lochyside on the edge of Fort William.

Two cars were parked outside the house, which sits close to the edge of the River Lochy and near to the West Highland rail line. There was a Saltire flag was flying from a pole in the back garden.

A police officer stationed at Charles Kennedy's home in Fort William

The politician was brought up next door in what used to be his parents’ home. His father Ian died earlier this year, and his mother Mary died in 2013.

The former family home now belongs to his older brother Ian, 62, who was being comforted there by friends and family. Mr Kennedy’s older sister Isabel lives in Canada and was expected to fly back to Scotland.

11.27

Lord Ashdown's tribute in our video sums up what many people are saying today – that Charles Kennedy was a thoroughly decent politician.

He describes him as "an increasingly rare figure" in British politics.

11.15

The Guardian reports friends of the former Lib Dem leader saying he was not drunk but in fact was "in shock after being told shortly before going on air that his very frail and elderly father Ian, 88, had been hospitalised in an emergency, after suffering repeated falls last year".

11.00

Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister, recalls how he tried to persuade Charles Kennedy to defect to Labour:

One of the greatest debaters, orators and communicators who brought humour to politics, Charles Kennedy was a man who effortlessly combined rock-solid principles with a personality that was always open to argument and ready to listen.

Possessing the warmest and most engaging of Scottish highland personalities, coupled with a natural charm that made him popular among even those who disagreed with him, he will be remembered as one of the most gifted and personable leaders of our time.

The first time I met Charles in 1983 I had recognised his ability and asked him to join the Labour Party. He politely declined. The last time I was in touch with him was to pass on condolences when his father, with whom he remained very close, sadly died just before the 2015 election.

No one will forget the skills Charles demonstrated - with his undoubted ability to debate, lead and persuade - in bringing the Liberal Democrats to life, in arguing against the Iraq War and in putting the case for Scotland in the UK and Britain in Europe.

He was a man who had even greater potential that will now forever remain unfulfilled and his loss will be felt deeply by all of us, particularly those who care about progressive values. My thoughts, and those of Sarah, are with his family and his young son of whom he was intensely proud.

10.40

Danny Alexander, the former Lib Dem chief secretary to the Treasury and former MP for the constituency neighbouring Charles Kennedy's, says:

Charles was a Highlander through and through, a great liberal, and one of the most talented politicians of his generation. He achieved a great deal for the communities he loved in the north of Scotland, and he gave courageous leadership to the opposition to the Iraq war

10.15

Rosa Prince recalls seeing Charles Kennedy at work:

As a young Lobby reporter on the Daily Mirror, I well remember an event before the 2005 general election, where we invited a panel of readers to meet the leaders of the three main parties.

Going into the session, they nearly all identified themselves as Labour voters, but by the end of the day it was overwhelmingly clear who had impressed them most.

Quietly impressive, charming without being slick, persuasive but not flash, Mr Kennedy persuaded every single voter in the room to back the Liberal Democrats. It was quite an extraordinary performance.

10.10

Press Association has compiled some of Charles Kennedy's most memorable quotes:

I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket. (On rumours he might defect to Labour, 2010)

I am enjoying the Loch Ness monster exhibition with my nine-year-old son. I told him it's the world's most famous floating voter.

The election to the chairmanship of the European Scrutiny Committee was akin to putting King Herod in charge of a maternity ward (on the elevation of Eurosceptic Tory MP Bill Cash in January 2014)

The Government may have spun us into war, but it must not be allowed to spin and smear its way out

In 21 years of election campaigns I have never kissed a baby

09.50

Jim Murphy, Scottish Labour leader, says the UK has lost "a political giant".

Although we came from different political traditions, Charles was a man I was proud to call a friend. When I was first elected to the House of Commons back in 1997 as a young 29-year old, Charles was one of the first people to offer me support and guidance. He didn't have to, but he did. That's just the kind of man he was.

Despite the sadness, those of us who knew him will remember the good times. We will look back at Charles' wit and good humour. In years to come we will remember with a smile the delight in knowing him, his huge contribution to politics and a life lost too soon.

The greatest tribute I could pay to Charles is that I always wished he was Labour, because he was so talented and popular with the general public. He will be sadly missed across Scotland and the whole United Kingdom.

09.30

Willie Rennie, Scottish Lib Dem leader:

With that cheeky smile, Highland voice and a few simple words, Charles Kennedy captured the political hearts of the nation.

With that cheeky smile, Highland voice and a few simple words, Charles Kennedy captured the political hearts of the nation.

Charles had a unique combination of political talent and public affection. He had a healthy disdain for policy detail but had highly tuned political instincts.

He was in his element on the campaign trail - stealing the show in a TV debate on independence, a joust with opponents in a public meeting in Portree or greeting people on the streets of Dunfermline.

His wise counsel and gentle encouragement is something I especially valued. I will miss him so much.

09.20

Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, tells Sky:

Charles Kennedy, on form, on a good day when he was feeling strong and happy, had more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together

He says he was in touch with Mr Kennedy just a few days ago discussing how to make the case for Britain to remain in Europe, something he believed passionately about.

It's just desperately, desperately sad that Charles should have died so young, leaving behind a young son who he was devoted to. Charles was the absolute polar opposite of your carboard cut-out, point-scoring politician.

He spent over 30 years in the House of Commons yet throughout that time remained a totally decent human being. He was understated, he was not showy, he was always very thoughtful, very funny.

He was an internationalist to his core, believed passionately that Britain should remain part of Europe.

He showed huge courage when he spoke pretty well alone on behalf of the whole country against the invasion of Iraq

He was the most successful leader of the Liberal Democrats since the party was created, by far.

Even though he scored spectacular election and by-election victories... he was always totally modest about it.

He spoke fluent human, because he had humanity in every vein and every cell. Above all, he was a doting Dad of his son, whose loss is going to be greater than for any of us, and who will be reminded of his father every time he looks in the mirror and sees his red hair and cheeky smile coming back. And he was a very good friend. I just wish that we, his friends, had been able to help him more, and that he was still with us today, adding a bit of light to an increasingly gloomy political landscape.

He tells how he and his partner were concerned about Charles Kennedy in the wake of the devastating election defeat:

We were all a bit worried about him after the election. Indeed, ‘is Charles going to be ok?’ was one of the questions Fiona asked me most often during the campaign, and, on the night the exit poll made it clear his safe seat was gone, ‘is Charles ok?’ became an inquiry of a very different nature. Representing the people of Ross, Skye and Lochaber meant so much to him. Last Christmas was the first time he said to me that he felt it was possible he might lose.

08.50

Simon Johnson writes:

Charles Kennedy was an extremely proud rector of Glasgow University, his former university.

He told a story that his tutor called him and said 'Now, young Kennedy, you are bright. What is going to happen with it? Charles went through a few things, possibly academia, and said: 'If all else fails I could try politics'.

He was elected an MP not long after that, and the tutor wrote him a letter which said 'Dear Charles, it appears that all else failed'.

08.34

David Cameron pays tribute:

I'm deeply saddened by the death of Charles Kennedy. He was a talented politician who has died too young. My thoughts are with his family.

08.30

Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister, says:

I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Charles Kennedy and my thoughts today are with his family, friends and party colleagues who will all be devastated by his passing. Charles was a hugely well-respected and well-liked man. He was without doubt one of the towering political talents of his generation - a sharp debater, who deployed knowledge, experience and wit to wonderful effect. He will be remembered - amongst his many other achievements - for his principled opposition to the war in Iraq and leading his party to its best ever election result. Charles devoted his life to serving Scotland and his beloved Highlands. His passion for making our country a better place to live is his lasting legacy. I am proud to have known Charles Kennedy and our country today is the poorer for his passing.

08.15

Paddy Ashdown says Charles Kennedy's opposition to the Iraq War - which saw him address the anti-war rally in Hyde Park in February 2003 - was perhaps his greatest moment and that history proved him right.

He says the House of Commons "robs you of your youth" if you enter as early as Mr Kennedy did.

08.07

As well as making his name opposing the Iraq War, Charles Kennedy was principled in his opposition to the Lib Dems going into Coalition with the Conservatives.

I did not subscribe to the view that remaining in opposition ourselves, while extending responsible "confidence and supply" requirements to a minority Tory administration, was tantamount to a "do nothing" response. I felt that such a course of action would have enabled us to maintain a momentum in opposition, while Labour turned inwards. But the understandable anxiety among colleagues about an early second election scuppered that option.

Awful news about Charles Kennedy, a principled man who fervently opposed the Iraq invasion and voted against a coalition with the Tories.

07.40

07.37

Paddy Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader,tells Sky News Charles Kennedy's death was "totally unexpected" and says he was going through "tough days" after his election defeat and having lost his father Ian, who died only two months ago aged 88 following a long illness.

He says Mr Kennedy had three "great passions", the first of which was his "beloved" constituency of Ross, Skye and Lochaber, which he lost.

It must have been devastating for him. He lost his father at the beginning of the campaign as well; these were tough days for him.

The second was the Highlands, and the third Britain in Europe, he said.

He pays tribute to him as a "rather rare talent".

Charles had that remarkable ability to reach beyond that circle of professional politicians. In an age which is probably not overburdened with gaiety and good sense this is a talent that will be hugely missed. He had his demons as do we all, but on song and on form he was I think the very best of us.

Let’s think about his achievements; he was the one person who stood against the political establishment and led the Liberal Democrats into opposing the Iraq war and history has proved him to be right.

07.30

Charles Kennedy's concession speech on losing his seat last month:

07.26

More tributes from fellow politicians.

Tim Farron MP, the Lib Dem leadership candidate, tweeted: "I am utterly heartbroken about the news of Charles' passing. He was a colleague, friend and mentor. We've lost a giant today."

David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, said: “Stunned to hear about Charles Kennedy. An outstanding Scottish and British politician and really nice guy. Sincere condolences to his family.”

Nigel Farage said: “I am very sorry to hear the news about Charles Kennedy, he was always a polite and decent man.”

Ian Blackford, the SNP candidate who unseated Mr Kennedy, said: “So sorry to hear the dreadful news that Charles Kennedy had passed away. A man of such great ability, such s tragedy he has passed away. RIP.”

Mr Kennedy's final tweet, written the day after the election, said: “Thank you to the generation of voters, and then some, who put their trust in me.”

07.12

Here is Charles Kennedy celebrating his first election victory back in 1983:

Former Liberal Democrat Party leader Charles Kennedy has died suddenly at his home aged only 55, his family disclosed today.

The Scottish former MP was found in his Highland home in Fort William and police are not treating it as suspicious. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed, with a post-mortem due to take place, but it is thought to be natural causes.

Mr Kennedy, who led his party from 1999 to 2006, lost his seat in the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency in last month's general election. Friends said he was heartbroken at the defeat.

His family said they felt an "enormous sense of shock" and paid tribute to a fine man and talented politician. In 2010 he and his wife Sarah divorced after eight years of marriage and the couple have a ten-year-old son together, Donald James.

High-profile figures from across the political spectrum expressed their shock and paid tribute to one of the “most talented” political figures of his generation.

An MP since 1983, Mr Kennedy took over the Liberal Democrat leadership from Paddy Ashdown in 1999. He led the party to its best election result since the 1920s in 2005, when the Lib Dems won 62 seats.

In January 2006 he said he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and resigned as leader.

A statement released on behalf of his family said: “It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy.

“Charles died at home in Fort William yesterday. He was 55. We are obviously devastated at the loss.

“Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son. We ask therefore that the privacy of his family is respected in the coming days.

“There will be a post-mortem and we will issue a further statement when funeral arrangements are made.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police officers attended an address at Fort William on Monday, June 1 to reports of the sudden death of a 55-year-old man. Police were notified by ambulance service personnel.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and our report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

06.50

Another former Lib Dem leader, this time Lord Ashdown, 74, has joined the tributes:

Charles Kennedy. In a political age not overburdened with gaiety and good sense, he brought us wit, charm, judgement, principle and decency

Here the pair are together at the 1999 Liberal Democrats Conference before Lord Ashdown's farewell speech:

06.42

Is this column he published on Lib Dem Voice on May 9 (just days after he lost his parliamentary seat) one of his last public articles?

In it he says:

I am very fond of political history. If nothing else, we can all reflect on and perhaps tell our grandchildren that we were there on “The night of long sgian dubhs!”

I would very much like to thank my home team. They have been so energetic, dedicated and selfless to the task. Indeed, with them, I would like to thank the very many over the years who have made possible the previous seven successful general election campaigns locally.

It has been the greatest privilege of my adult and public life to have served, for 32 years, as the Member of Parliament for our local Highlands and Islands communities. I would particularly like to thank the generation of voters, and then some, who have put their trust in me to carry out that role and its responsibilities.

"He led the Liberal Democrats to our party's greatest electoral successes, yet he always remained modest about his huge achievements.

"Whenever I asked him for advice, he was unfailingly kind and wise.

"Most of all, I will never forget the pride and love with which he would talk about his own family, most especially his devotion to his son Donald.

"My heart goes out to his sister and brother and to Sarah and Donald at this tragic time."

06.12

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has died aged 55 at his home in Fort William, his family said today.

Taking over from Paddy Ashdown in 1999, he went on to lead the party through its most successful period.

His leadership was marked by his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which helped propel the Liberal Democrats to their best result in more than 80 years with 62 seats.

Charles Kennedy pictured with his wife Sarah

But in January 2006 - following months of rumours about his drinking - Mr Kennedy dramatically admitted he had been receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and said he was calling a leadership contest.

While he declared that he wanted to carry on he was forced to stand down in the face of the threat of mass resignations by senior colleagues.

Mr Kennedy went on serving as an infuential figure on the backbenches but lost his seat to the SNP in the 2015 general election.